MOC-FV and Northwestern Partner to Upgrade Shared Softball Facility

ORANGE CITY, Iowa – The MOC-Floyd Valley School District Board of Education has approved significant renovations to the high school softball field. The project, which will impact both the Northwestern College and MOC-Floyd Valley softball programs, is made possible due to the strong joint facility partnership between the two schools.

"We are excited to partner with MOC-FV to build a premier softball field for our athletes" said Tony Hoops, Northwestern's Vice President for Athletics. "I want to thank the MOC-FV administrative team for working with us to address a significant need for our program along with the financial support of Northwestern donors and the MOC-FV school district. This partnership is uniquely special in our community."

Commencing this July, the renovation aims to extend the outfield fences to meet the NAIA-recommended distances and install a new FieldTurf playing surface. Also included in the plans are turf bullpens and a new scoreboard.

Tarkett Sports, a global leader in the sports turf industry located regionally in Kansas City, will take on the project, with a scheduled completion of fall 2026.

"We are blessed to have outstanding facilities here in Orange City and at MOC‑Floyd Valley, and we are very fortunate to share a strong, longstanding partnership with Northwestern College," MOC-Floyd Valley Athletic Director Mitch Aalbers stated. "The opportunity to collaborate on another exceptional facility speaks to the history and relationships that define our community. We are truly excited about this project and what it will mean for our school district and the greater Orange City community."

The current field, located on the north side of MOC-Floyd Valley High School, last saw major improvements in 2015 when enhancements such as a new backstop, netting, press box, and fencing were made. The upcoming upgrades will allow Northwestern College to host NAIA Championship events, enhancing the venue's utility and prestige while also preparing the field to withstand varying weather conditions.

"We have been blessed to build a nationally-relevant softball program at Northwestern, and now we will have the facility to match," Northwestern softball head coach Shane Bouman commented. "We look forward to continuing to bring high-level softball to the area."

"This project is a huge deal for our entire community, as softball athletes of all ages will benefit from this first-class facility," MOC-FV head coach/Northwestern assistant Jennifer Boeve added.

The extended outfield fence will be repositioned to expand the field dimensions to 210 feet at the corners and 225 feet to the center field, accommodating the requirements for hosting championship-level competitions.

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